Starting from May 16 at 10 am PT, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have the opportunity to play FIFA 23 as part of their subscription. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers various special perks, and one of the key reasons to sign up for this service is to gain access to EA Play and its extensive game library.
EA Play is essentially Electronic Arts’ equivalent of Xbox Game Pass, providing subscribers with access to a wide range of games from EA’s library. Although it doesn’t offer day-one releases, EA Play does include free trials for new games. Typically, EA-published games are added to the EA Play library within six to twelve months of their release, including popular sports titles like FIFA 23.
FIFA 23, the latest installment in EA’s long-standing FIFA franchise, holds significance as it might be the last game to bear the FIFA name.
EA is planning to rebrand the soccer series as EA Sports FC starting with next year’s release. In the meantime, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can enjoy FIFA 23 on Xbox consoles and PC. However, it should be noted that a cloud version of FIFA 23 is not currently available.
FIFA 23 received mostly positive reviews upon its initial release last year, although it did face some criticism commonly directed at the FIFA franchise over the past decade. Like other EA Sports games, FIFA 23 incorporates aggressive monetization practices. Nevertheless, the FIFA franchise carries a strong legacy, and FIFA 23’s addition to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate lineup will likely be well-received, particularly among soccer fans.
In addition to gaining access to the EA Play game library, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers also have the benefit of claiming free games every month, as Xbox Live Gold benefits are included in their subscriptions. Currently, subscribers can claim Star Wars Episode 1: Racer and Hoa for free. Star Wars Episode 1: Racer will be available for free until May 31, while subscribers have until June 15 to add Hoa to their digital libraries.
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